Newbie with Kampilan questions

Dimasalang · 15th January 2009, 08:43 AM

Hi everybody,

Newbie here. I registered awhile back and have been lurking here for quite some time now, this forum is just filled with great information, I'm learning a lot and I can't get enough. Thanks to Spunjer I now have a new "expensive" hobby. A little about myself, I guess I would say Im somewhat of an amatuer researcher on Philippine history; particularly the Philippine Revolution, Philippine American War, and on up to the Moro uprisings. Being heavily influenced by this time period has got me curious about weapons(both firearms and blades) of that era...and after hearing an ear full from Spunjer on another forum, I finally began my own little collection of Philippine weapons late last year.

Well anyways, I got questions on a Kampilan I acquired this year(gotta love the sellers that don't know what they have). Not that I know everything, but this one looks to be somewhat unique(Im guessing). The guard has a serpent carved in to it(both sides) and the blade has some symbols engraved in to it(the symbol is "mirrored" on the other side as well). Also Spunjer had a thread a few days ago about a brassy colored blade on one of his kris's...this Kampilan also has a very brassy finish to it. Looking at the blade straight on it appears like a regular silver finish(like the photo of tip), but once looking at the blade at an angle, the brassy finish shines through significantly(it is really yellow). This is throughout the entire blade of the sword...there are some dings and it looks like it is not just a surface coating. Also if anyone has info of the era and possible region this one is from, please let me know. Tried to take pics the best I could of this...sorry, Im no pro at photography either. Hope you guys like this one.

Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!

-Kevin

15th January 2009, 08:43 AM	#1
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Newbie with Kampilan questions Hi everybody, Newbie here. I registered awhile back and have been lurking here for quite some time now, this forum is just filled with great information, I'm learning a lot and I can't get enough. Thanks to Spunjer I now have a new "expensive" hobby. A little about myself, I guess I would say Im somewhat of an amatuer researcher on Philippine history; particularly the Philippine Revolution, Philippine American War, and on up to the Moro uprisings. Being heavily influenced by this time period has got me curious about weapons(both firearms and blades) of that era...and after hearing an ear full from Spunjer on another forum, I finally began my own little collection of Philippine weapons late last year. Well anyways, I got questions on a Kampilan I acquired this year(gotta love the sellers that don't know what they have). Not that I know everything, but this one looks to be somewhat unique(Im guessing). The guard has a serpent carved in to it(both sides) and the blade has some symbols engraved in to it(the symbol is "mirrored" on the other side as well). Also Spunjer had a thread a few days ago about a brassy colored blade on one of his kris's...this Kampilan also has a very brassy finish to it. Looking at the blade straight on it appears like a regular silver finish(like the photo of tip), but once looking at the blade at an angle, the brassy finish shines through significantly(it is really yellow). This is throughout the entire blade of the sword...there are some dings and it looks like it is not just a surface coating. Also if anyone has info of the era and possible region this one is from, please let me know. Tried to take pics the best I could of this...sorry, Im no pro at photography either. Hope you guys like this one. Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks guys! -Kevin